FCC Moves Forward In Removing Companies From Robocall Database

OpenAI

October 4, 2022 - The FCC on Monday announced that due to continued non-compliance in combatting illegal robocalls, seven companies are now facing removal from their Robocall Mitigation Database.

In their release, the FCC alleges that the offending companies failed to take required steps to combat robocalls including the implementation of STIR/SHAKEN protocols.

STIR/SHAKEN, otherwise known as Secure Telephone Identity Revisited and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs, is a set of protocols which allows voice carriers to work together in order to sign and validate the legitimacy of a caller. This makes it somewhat easier to identify calls originating from "spoofed" numbers, which are either completely nonexistent or not originating from the proper carrier. Voice carriers in the US have been required to implement the protocols since this summer, with few exceptions.

The seven companies alleged to have run afoul of this deadline are:

• Akabis
• Cloud4
• Global UC
• Horizon Technology Group
• Morse Communications
• Sharon Telephone Company
• SW Arkansas Telecommunications and Technology

Now that they have been notificed of noncompliance by the FCC, each company will have 14 days to demonstrate that they have taken reasonable measures to mitigate robocalls, and to demonstrate that they are unable to implement STIR/SHAKEN at this time. Failure to do so would result in removal from the FCC's Robocall Mitigation Database, which would then require all intermediary carriers to block their traffic completely. 

While it's refreshing to see such an agressive stance on robocalls by the FCC, it remains to be seen how effective this push will be against actual robocalls, and whether tough enforcement actions like this will ultimately harm legitimate customers.